Fire on Ranger Street Feb. 3

The Kern County Fire Department received a call at 8:44 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 3, reporting a fire in a garage at the 900 block of South Ranger Street. A passerby notified the occupants of the home of the fire.

When crews arrived, they found the attached garage fully involved in fire, and they began a rapid aggressive attack on the fire. Firefighters were able to knock down the fire that was beginning to spread to the main living area of the house. Simultaneously they searched the structure to ensure all occupants were out safely. Fire crews were also able to keep the fire in the attic from progressing beyond the garage area.

Four occupants were displaced as a result of the fire, which left an estimated $45,000 in damages.

Four trucks with 11 fire personnel responded to the blaze, along with other equipment. Cooperating agencies included Ridgecrest Police Department, Liberty Ambulance Company and Southern California Edison.

The cause of the fire remained under under investigation when KCFD released a fact sheet on the incident. Firefighters reported there was a smoke detector in the home; however, the battery had been removed.

The Kern County Fire Department urged all residents to install working smoke detectors in their homes and to check all currently installed smoke detectors for proper operation.